A look at the eight starting position players, after the suspension of SS Jorge Polanco:
The Twins will need even more from their core players in order to contend in 2018. A look at the eight starting position players, after the suspension of SS Jorge Polanco:
1B Joe Mauer finished as the top defensive first baseman in 2017, according to FanGraphs' Ultimate Zone Rating.
1.Mauer, Twins7.1
2.Joey Votto, Cincinnati6.6
3.Carlos Santana, Cleveland4.8
4.Anthony Rizzo, Cubs4.0
5.Mitch Moreland, Boston4.0
6.Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona3.7
7.Miguel Cabrera, Detroit3.3
8.Justin Smoak, Toronto1.7
9.Logan Morrison, Tampa Bay1.2
10.Jose Abreu, White Sox0.5
2B Brian Dozier hit the sixth-most home runs in baseball over the past two seasons.
1.Giancarlo Stanton, Miami86
2.Khris Davis, Oakland85
3.Nelson Cruz, Seattle82
4.Edwin Encarnacion, two teams 80
5.Nolan Arenado, Colorado78
6.Dozier, Twins76
7.Mark Trumbo, Baltimore70
T8.Josh Donaldson, Toronto70
Manny Machado, Baltimore70
SS Eduardo Escobar is a consummate utility man; here are his games played by position.
1. Shortstop307
2.Third base180
3.Second base58
4.Designated hitter36
5.Left field32
6.Catcher1
7.Center field 1
8.Pitcher1
9.Right field 1
3B Miguel Sano was fourth in average exit velocity (in mph) on balls in play last year.
1.Aaron Judge, Yankees95.0
T2.Nelson Cruz, Seattle94.0
Joey Gallo, Texas94.0
4.Sano, Twins93.4
5.Matt Olson, Angels93.1
6.Giancarlo Stanton, Miami92.6
7.Khris Davis, Oakland92.5
8.Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona92.0
T9.Ryan Zimmerman, Washington91.8
Manny Machado, Baltimore91.8
LF Eddie Rosario finished seventh in slugging percentage among left fielders in 2017.
1.Cody Bellinger, Dodgers.581
2.Marcell Ozuna, Miami.548
3.Justin Upton, two teams.540
4.Marwin Gonzalez, Houston.530
5.Khris Davis, Oakland.528
6.Tommy Pham, St. Louis.520
7.Rosario, Twins.507
8.Chris Taylor, Dodgers.496
9.Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay.490
10.Trey Mancini, Baltimore.488
CF Byron Buxton had the second-highest defensive WAR of all outfielders in 2017.
1.Mookie Betts, Boston13.3
2.Buxton, Twins11.8
3.Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati9.6
4.Odubel Herrera, Philadelphia8.8
5.Kevin Pillar, Toronto8.3
6.Manuel Margot, San Diego7.0
7.Jackie Bradley, Boston6.2
8.Yasiel Puig, Dodgers5.9
9.Alex Gordon, Kansas City5.6
10.Ender Inciarte, Atlanta4.6
RF Max Kepler finished fourth in fielding percentage among right fielders in 2017.
1.Nick Markakis, Atlanta.997
T2.Yasiel Puig, Dodgers.996
Hunter Pence, San Francisco.996
4.Kepler, Twins.993
5.Jason Heyward, Cubs.991
6.Bryce Harper, Washington.989
T7.Giancarlo Stanton, Miami.988
Kole Calhoun, Angels.988
9.Mookie Betts, Boston.987
C Jason Castro was a top-10 defensive catcher in 2017, according to FanGraphs.
1.Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati14.9
2.Martin Maldonado, Dodgers12.8
3.Yadier Molina, St. Louis12.7
4.Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers12.6
5.J.T. Realmuto, Miami12.4
6.Jonathan Lucroy, two teams10.1
7.Mike Zunino, Seattle9.5
8.Austin Hedges, San Diego9.0
9.Matt Wieters, Washington8.6
10.Castro, Twins7.8
Houston made the Twins pay for their inability to get a hit with a runner in scoring position all weekend, walking off with an extra-inning victory on a long fly ball that Willi Castro couldn’t catch.
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